Budino, Baby2Baby, and Smart Brevity

From Jamie’s Desk:

If you’ve been a longtime reader of this newsletter, you know that there are a few events each year that I refer to as my Super Bowl: Coachella, Jazz Fest, the actual Super Bowl, Oscar Weekend, Sundance – the list goes on. But if you really know me, there is truly only one event that matters each year: the Baby2Baby Gala. And it’s happening this weekend. 

It’s their most critical fundraising event of the year, and has become one of the highest-caliber events in Los Angeles, where everyone comes together for a good cause. It’s also really fun – from the people to the food (Saturday’s line-up is arguably the best ever) to the music (this year’s guest is truly insane). 

All of that aside, the real reason the gala is so special is that we can take a moment to think about what Kelly, Norah, and the entire Baby2Baby team have accomplished over the past 15 years. From a tiny one-room warehouse to the Time 100 list, the stats coming from this organization are hard to comprehend. But in case you need a reminder: 

These achievements are staggering, and when you see them it’s easy to understand why they have achieved the accolades they have. But their work is just getting started. Last year alone, they had requests for 1.9 billion (yes, billion) diapers. Not to mention, the rising natural disasters that they want to be ready to respond to, often even bridging the gap with the federal government (during the formula shortage, Baby2Baby worked with the US government to manufacture formula). 

For those of you who won’t be at the gala this weekend and are still looking for ways to contribute, please take a moment to donate here – or you can participate in the auction. It has some of the most exciting items: from front-row seats to the Chanel Fashion Show in Paris to a private dinner with Evan Funke to a Jenny Holzer footstool.

I can’t wait to see what Baby2Baby continues to accomplish, and I can’t wait to eat my favorite foods for a good cause at the gala. Stay tuned for my food recap next week.

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

🎧 Lunch With Jamie is available as a podcast—perfect for easy, on-the-go listening. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. We want to hear from you!

📆 My next guest on Lunch With Jamie is author and journalist Jacob Soboroff. He’ll join me November 18th at 1 pm PT to discuss midterms, the media, and much more. As always, paid subscribers can join the conversation live and participate by sending questions in.

Jim VandeHei believes in keeping things simple. So much so that he helped coin the term “smart brevity,” which is the foundation of his booming media brand, Axios. 

Jim’s political and journalistic acumen doesn’t stop there. He’s put in the work at Roll Call, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and he co-founded Politico. He’s seen a lot – and we had a lot to talk about. 

▶️ Listen to the full conversation · Apple · Spotify · Amazon

Jim’s gone all-in on artificial intelligence, using it at Axios and in his personal life. We talked about the promises, the perils, and all that’s in between. And of course, we had to discuss politics. Midterms were top of mind: the spectrum of Democratic candidates and the 2028 contenders on both sides of the aisle. When asked about the heir apparent for the right wing of the party and what their strategy should be, he had this to say: 

For the full conversation you’ll have to listen. And as always, rate/comment/subscribe. 

📍Los Angeles: Spacca Tutto (reviewed by Max Shapiro for Mad Food World)
Cuisine: Italian
Crew: Matt Karatz, Eater, The Infatuation, LA Magazine, The LA Times
Good For: Date Night, Small Groups, Business Dinner, Lunch, Good Cocktails
Pro Tip: There’s a large outdoor patio that’s been done very well – and they’re open for lunch.
What to Order: Focaccia di Recco, Porchetta Fredda, Polenta Dogs, Cantabrian Anchovy Crostini, Artichoke Dip, Skirt Steak (Dal Rae Style), Stone Axe Picanha (Steak Frites Style with Au Poivre), Maitake Mushrooms, Affogato, Chocolate Mousse
Notes: Spacca Tutto just opened in Palisades Village, and I’ll say it right from the jump. This is the best restaurant to ever exist in the Pacific Palisades. Spacca Tutto is a collaboration involving Rick Caruso, Nancy Silverton’s Mozza Restaurant Group, and New School Hospitality. This isn’t exactly another Nancy Silverton restaurant in the traditional sense, and the result is something a little different from what we’ve come to expect from her restaurants. The immediate comparison will obviously be Chi Spacca, since Spacca is right there in the name, but the menu here covers a lot more ground. There are some familiar Chi Spacca dishes, but this is a much broader restaurant with a different audience in mind. One of the smartest decisions they made was hiring Nick Russo as executive chef. Nick is a real pro with a deep bag of tricks and tremendous range, who can execute the familiar stuff people want while also giving more adventurous diners something to get excited about. 

This menu has polenta dogs, shrimp cocktail, spinach artichoke dip, steaks, and all sorts of recognizable American favorites. They’re playing some hits here, and I understand why. But there’s plenty of interesting stuff mixed in, and the menu manages to appeal to different kinds of diners without becoming completely generic. One thing I appreciate is the absence of pasta. Does every restaurant in Los Angeles need to serve cacio e pepe and out-of-season corn agnolotti? Apparently not. We have enough pasta in this city. I’m happy to see a restaurant that doesn’t feel obligated to put it on the menu. The restaurant is still brand new and ironing out some kinks, but there’s a lot to like here. The space is beautiful, the menu has something for just about everyone, and most importantly, there’s a very capable chef running the kitchen. Nick Russo is a big part of why I think this place is going to work. Is it the best restaurant the Pacific Palisades has ever had? I certainly think so. Granted, that’s not the most difficult title to claim, but it’s still worth celebrating. Go check it out, support the neighborhood, and give Nick Russo a big fat kiss while you’re there.

To see the rest of Max’s review, and discover other hot LA dining picks, subscribe to Mad Food World.

📍New Orleans: Lilette
Cuisine: French
Crew: Alon Shaya, James Ponsoldt, Kristina O’Neill, Sawyer Patricof, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, Goop
Good For: Date Night, Small Groups, Business Dinner, Good Cocktails, Lunch
Pro Tip: I learned this from James Carville – but go for lunch, sit at the bar, and enjoy a burger.
What to Order: Tuna Crudo, Potato Gnocchi, Sizzling Shrimp, Louisiana Crab Claws, Arugula, Seared Kobe Burger, Butterscotch Budino, Apple Cake
Notes: Lilette was one of the first restaurants I went to as an adult in New Orleans — meaning post-college visits and bachelor parties — and over the years, it’s remained perfect. An uptown classic, they’ve been making delicious food for 25 years. It could live in any city, in any era, but it also feels perfect for right now. The vibe is everything you want in New Orleans: dress up and make it a special night out, or keep it a little more casual. It works for lunch or dinner. It’s definitely a French bistro, but with some Italian flavors mixed in, and the menu has something for everyone. Crab claws? Yes. Salads, steak, a Kobe burger? Yes, yes, yes. It’s always busy, partly because it’s on Magazine Street and partly because it landed on Taylor Swift’s list of NOLA stops. I’ve always loved this place, but my most recent visit vaulted it to a must on anyone’s New Orleans trip.

Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Chris Camillo, Chris Rice, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eli Meyer, Kristina O’Neill, Iman Dakhil, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Kevin Shivers, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, Marc Rose, Marc Mezvinsky, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Kives, Michael Albenberg, Nicole Richie, Neal Moritz, Nick Grad, Nick Tran, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Phil Ettinger, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, Vinny Dotolo.

Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan